Friday , March 29 2024
Frosty's Winter Wonderland gets a new DVD release, looking fantastic, with one cool special feature.

DVD Review: Frosty’s Winter Wonderland

Now out on DVD is a remastered “deluxe” edition of Frosty’s Winter Wonderland. A 1976 sequel to the original 1969 Frosty the Snowman special, Frosty’s Winter Wonderland finds the titular character unhappy being alone. Hearing this, the children immediately set about working together to make Frosty a wife, whom he names Crystal. But it is only after Frosty gives her frost flowers, and through his love, that she comes alive, like he is.

Meanwhile, Jack Frost (Paul Frees) grows jealous of Frosty’s idealistic life, so he blows off Frosty’s hat, turning Frosty back into a regular snowman. Once again, however, it is the power of love that rejuvenates him. As Frosty and Crystal prepare for their wedding ceremony, Jack Frost causes a wintry wind to launch his second attack. Frosty and Crystal approach the cad and ask him to be their best man.

Now friends, they intend on prolonging winter, which would please all three. It is not until Parson Brown (Dennis Day, The Jack Benny Program) raises the point about the trees and bulbs in the ground never being able to bloom if they don’t let spring come that they realize it is time for them to go home, and they return to the North Pole.

With this DVD release of Frosty’s Winter Wonderland, the story comes back to life, just as Frosty has a habit of doing, as the holiday season fast approaches. Andy Griffith (The Andy Griffith Show, Matlock) narrates the classic special, with Jackie Vernon (Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July) playing Frosty. Andy Griffith’s classic narration style invites the viewer deeper into the story. Jackie Vernon creates a somewhat dopey, yet completely lovable and unencumbered Frosty that is just a magnet for children. And there is no one to match him better than the sweet and adorable Crystal, played by Shelley Winters (A Place in the Sun, The Diary of Anne Frank).

One of the special features in this set is “Frosty and the Story of the Snowman”, providing, you guessed it, the history of snowmen and the creation of Frosty’s character. The earliest documented snowman appears in 1380 as an insecure creature. Nevertheless, man has always loved snowmen. They tend to be a reflection of ourselves, created with common or household items laying around. Completely non-denominational, snowmen are the least judgmental form of artwork. Artistic as a child, Frosty’s animator, Paul Coker Jr., starts out as a gag cartoonist and drawer of greeting cards. Surprisingly, it is not until the creation of Frosty that snowmen become associated with children. Furthermore, when the song “Frosty the Snowman” originates, snowmen begin to be viewed as a joyous symbol of the holidays. Frosty is now a brand that people look forward to every year. People believe that when they create, dress, and name a snowman, that they are creating a kind of friend.

Other features include a trailer for Dolphin Tale, starring Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd, and Harry Connick Jr., and a trailer for Santa’s Magical Stories, a compilation of 7 Rankin Bass Productions, including How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

While this special first aired thiry-five years ago, this DVD presents clear animation, a sharp picture, and quality sound, lasting for the entire twenty-four minute run. In short, the remastered work is great, and Frosty’s Winter Wonderland has never looked better!

With December being just around the corner, we are soon to be inundated by non-stop Christmas music on the radio and twenty-five days of Christmas classics. There is no doubt that Frosty’s Winter Wonderland is included in that mix. Regardless of age, no one can deny how classic the character of Frosty is around this time of year. Despite the fact that this short is repeated a number of times each Christmas, it is hard to grow weary of it. Viewing it again recalls many fond memories. Overall, Frosty’s Winter Wonderland is short, wholesome, and provides an uninhibited experience.

You can purchase Frosty’s Winter Wonderland on Amazon beginning today!

About JeromeWetzelTV

Jerome is the creator and writer of It's All Been Done Radio Hour, a modern scripted live comedy show and podcast in the style of old-timey radio serials, and the founder of the Columbus-based entertainment network, IABDPresents. He is also the Chief Television Critic for Seat42F.com and a long-time contributor for Blogcritics. Plus, he works fiction into his space time. Visit http://iabdpresents.com for more of his work.

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